Friday, February 19, 2010

Spanish wind turbine maker Gamesa has brought back 79 workers who were laid off from the Cambria County plant in November. That's due to a $7.8 million dollar federal stimulus grant with which Gamesa will install 19 two-megawatt wind turbines at the Chestnut Flats Wind Farm in Cambria and Blair Counties. The company will start up a second manufacturing line and hire an additional 50 workers.Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell also announced grants for two other wind power projects: $10 million for Iberdrola Renewables' South Chestnut to install 23 two-megawatt turbines in Fayette County that will create 129 jobs; and $5 million for the Broad Mountain Wind Energy Center's installation of eight turbines in Schuylkill County which is expected to produce 43 jobs.Since the federal Recovery Act was passed, Pennsylvania companies and communities have received more than $800 million for green energy projects. Rendell says according to the Pew Center, Pennsylvania ranks third for the growth of green jobs behind Texas and California...."it's clear that the stimulus is working; it's providing a lifeline to families, slowing job losses."